Radiator assembling apparatus



Dec. 15, 1931. j RW ER 1,836,619

RADIATOR ASSEMBLING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q I INVENTOR 7&2) an??? 6 fiz'faer EBY Z Z M W ATTORNEYS' Dec. 15, 1931. w. c, RlTTER 1,836,619

RADIATOR AS SEMBLING APPARATUS Filed Jan.- 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sfiaet 2 0 /4 Inaaaaanna a lawman INVENTOR II ZZZzam 32666) ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM C.- RITTER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO LONG MANUFAUIUBING COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN RADIATOR ASSEMBLIN'G APPARATUS Application filed l 'anuary 26, 1931. Serial No. 511,415.

This invention relates to improved method and apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type.

One of the principal objects of this invention is to simplify the method of manufacture and reduce the cost thereof to a minimum by providing assembling apparatus designed to engage the marginal portions of the fins forrigidly holding the latter in proper and uniform spaced relation to each other While the tubes are assembled therewith.

With the foregoing as well as other objects in view, the invention resides in the novel construction of the apparatus and the simplicity of the method which will be more fully hereinafter set forth, especially when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved apparatus having certain parts broken away for the sake of clearness;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the constructionshown in Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through the construction illustrated in Figure 1.

The apparatus illustrated herein for carrying out the method to be presently described is extremely simple in construction and as shown in Figure 1 comprises a box-like construction 10 having top, bottom, end and side walls 11, 12, 13 and 14, respectively. The cross, sectional area of the box-like constructionshown in Figure 1 depends upon'the particular size of heat exchange unit it is desired to produce and as will be observed from the aforesaid figure, the inner surfaces of the top, bottom, and end walls-are provided or formed with alternate grooves and projections 15 and 16, respectively. The grooves in the top and bottom walls are arranged in alignment with the grooves in the end walls for receiving the marginal edge portions of suitable fins which are in the formof substantially flat plates 17. The grooves 15 are spaced transversely from each other a distance depending upon the space desired between the fins and are of such width as to slidably receive the fins.

In order to insure alignment of the grooves in the end walls with the grooves in the top and bottom walls, the upper and lower edges of the former walls are provided with projections 18 arranged in registration with the grooves-.15 in the inner surface thereof so as to slidably engage the grooves 15 in the top and bottom walls. In other words, the construction is such that when the projections 18, above described, are in engagement with the grooves 15 in the upper and lower walls,

alignment of the grooves'in the end walls with the grooves aforesaid is insured.- The topwall 11 of the box-like construction is preferably removable and is assembled with spaced from each other longitudinally of the. wall a distance depending upon the desired spacing of the water tubes 20. The opposite side wall is provided with projections 21 extending inwardly therefrom and spaced apart a predetermined distance for receiving therebetween the free ends of the water tubes after the latter have been extended through prefashion eel slots 22 in the fins.

In assembling the apparatus above deof the end walls 13 are positioned within the scribed, the projections 18 on the lower edges the latter grooves with the grooves 15in the end walls. positioned as stated above, the latter are adjusted relative to each other to the proper' distance apart and then the side walls are secured thereto in any suitable manner. The fins 17 are then assembled with the side and bottom walls in a'manner to 'be more fully 'hereinafterdescribed and after this is accomplished, one edge portion of the top wall is placed upon the upper edge of one of the end walls with the projections 18 on the latter in engagement with the grooves 15 in the top wall. After this is accom lished, re istration ofv the grooves 15 in t e to wal with the upper marginal portions of t e fins is insured when the top wall is. slid in assembled position.

Referring. now to the method employed for After the end walls have been assembling the fins and water tubes and with special reference to Figure 1, it will be noted that the fins are inserted from the top of the box by aligning the marginal end portions with opposite grooves 15 in the'end walls 13 and sliding the fins downwardly until the lower marginal edge portions engage within the grooves 15 in the bottom wall. The top wall isthen assembled with the box as previously stated and after this is accomplished, the water tubes 20 are extended through the slots 19 in one of the side walls and through the preformed apertures 22 in the fins. In this connection it is to be noted that the slots 19, above described, are open at their upper ends so that after removing the top wall 11, the fins and water tubes may be readily removed from the box-like construction as a unit. After the unit has been removed from the assembling apparatus, it may be dipped in a soldering solution to secure the fins to the tubes.

Thus, from the foregoing it will be ob served that my improved method and apparatus is extremely simple and provides for readily and properly assembling the fins of the heat exchange unit upon the water tubes thereof.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, a boxlike structure having end and bottom walls provided with alternate grooves and projections on the inner surfaces thereof with the grooves in each of said walls arranged in registration, and a removable top wall having projections forming grooves in alignment with the grooves in the end walls and cooperating with the latter grooves and the grooves in the bottom wall to receive the marginal edge portions of the fins.

2-. In apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, a platelike member having alternate grooves and projections on one surface thereof, a second plate-like member arranged at substantially right angles tothe plate aforesaid and hav ing grooves in the inner surface thereof registering with the grooves in said first-mentioned plate for receiving adjacent marginal edges of the fins, and projections upon said second plate slidably engaging in the grooves in the first-mentioned plate for accurately positioning the second plate to insure alignment of the grooves in the latter with the grooves in the first-mentioned plate.

3. In apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, a platelike member having alternate grooves and projections on one surface thereof, a second plate-like member extending at substantially right angles to the plate-like member aforesaid and having grooves on the inner surface thereof registering with the grooves in the first-mentioned plate for receiving adjacent marginal edge portions of the fins, projectionsupon the edge of said second plate adj acent the first plate slidably engaging in the grooves in the latter plate for accurately positioning the latter and insuring alignment of the grooves in said plates, and means cooperating with the plates aforesaid for embracing the remaining marginal edges of the fins.

4. In apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, a unit having a bottom plate provided with alternate grooves and projections on the upper surface thereof, end plates arranged at substantially right angles to the bottom plate in spaced relation to each other and having grooves in the inner surfaces thereof registering with the grooves in the upper surface of said bottom plate, a top plate-like member having grooves in the bottom surface thereof arranged in alignment with the grooves aforesaid and cooperating with the latter to receive the marginal edge portions of the fins, and means upon the end plates for accurately positioning the top plate relative thereto.

5. In apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, a unit having spaced walls provided with alternate grooves and projections on the inner surfaces thereof with the grooves opposite each other, a wall connecting the walls aforesaid and having grooves on one surface thereof registering with the grooves in the end walls, and cooperating interengaging means upon the end walls and connecting wall for accurately positioning the said walls to insure alignment of the grooves. V

6. In apparatus forassembling heat exchange units of the, fin and tube type, a unit having spaced walls provided with grooves and. projections on the inner surfaces thereof with the grooves arranged opposite each other, a connecting wall having grooves on one surface thereof arranged in registration with the grooves in the walls aforesaid, and projections upon the latter walls intermediate the grooves therein for slidably engaging the grooves in the connectmg wallto insure alignment of the latter grooves with the groves in the other walls.

7. In apparatus for assembling. heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, a boxlike structure having top, bottom and end walls provided with grooves on the inner surfaces thereof cooperating to receive the marginal edges of a plurality of fins, and a side wall for said structure slotted for receiving the tubes to permit the passage of the same through the fins.

8. In apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, a boxlike structure having end and bottom walls provided with alternate grooves and projections on the inner surfaces thereof with the grooves arranged in registration, a removable top wall having grooves on the inner surface thereof cooperating with the grooves in the walls aforesaid to receive the marginal edges of a plurality of fins, and means for guiding the top wall in assembled relation with the walls aforesaid to insure registration of the grooves therein'with the adjacent marginal edge portions of the fins.

9. In apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, a pair of spaced walls having alternate grooves and projections on the inner surfaces thereof with the grooves arranged opposite each other for receiving opposite ends of a plurality of fins, a removable connecting wall having grooves therein arranged to register with the grooves in the walls aforesaid and adapted for positioning upon the spaced walls after the fins have been assembled with the latter, and means for guiding said connecting wall into operative relation with the fins.

10. In apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, a pair of spaced walls having alternate grooves andprojections on the inner surfaces thereof withthe grooves arranged opposite each other for receiving opposite ends of a plurality of fins, a removable connecting wall having grooves therein arranged to register with the grooves in the walls aforesaid and adapted for positioning upon the spaced walls after the fins have been assembled therewith, and

projections upon said spaced walls intermediate the grooves therein for slidably engagin the grooves in the top wall upon assemblmg the latter for accurately registering the grooves therein with the fins.

11. In apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, a pair of spaced walls having alternate rooves and projections on the inner surfaces t ereof with the grooves arranged opposite each other for receiving opposite ends of a plurality of fins, a removable connecting wall having grooves therein arranged to register with the grooves in the walls aforesaid and adapted for positioning upon the spaced walls after the fins have been assembled therewith, and means for guiding the connecting wall in as sembled relation with the walls aforesaid and in registration with the adjacent marginal edges of the fins including means upon the transverse edge portions of the spaced walls adjacent the connecting wall arranged to slidably engage cooperating means on the connecting wall.

12. In apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, a pair of spaced walls having alternate grooves and PIOJQCtiODSbIl the inner surfaces thereof with the grooves arranged opposite each other and having projections intermediate the grooves on the oppositetransverse edges thereof, and connecting walls having grooves therein registering with the grooves in the walls aforesaid and slidably engagin said projectionsfor insuring alignment 0 the grooves.

13. In apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, a boxlike .structure comprising, end walls having grooves in the inner surfaces thereof arranged opposite each other and having rojections intermediate the grooves exten ing from the transverse edge of said walls, top

and bottom walls having grooves in the inner surfaces thereof registering with the grooves aforesaid and slidably engaging the projections for insuring alignment of the grooves, and side walls secured to the end walls, one of said side walls having open-ended slots therein for receiving the tubes to permit the latter to be passed through the fins. I

14. In apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, a pair marginal edge portions .of a plurality of fins to support the latter in predetermined spaced relation and fashioned to permit a plurality of tubes to be extended through the fins while the latter are supported by said means.

16. Apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, comprising a plate-like member having a plurality of spaced grooves therein for receivin one of the marginal edges of a plurality o fins, a second removable plate-like member having grooves therein corresponding to the grooves aforesaidfor receiving the opposite marginal edges of each of the fins, and means for accurately positioning said removable plate-like member relative to the other member upon moving the former in assembled relation with the latter to insure registration of the grooves in saidremovable plate with the adjacent marginal edges of'the fins.

17. Apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, comprising a box-like structure having top, bottom and end walls, each provided with registering grooves on the inner surfaces thereof for receiving the marginal edges of aplu rality of fins.

18. Apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type wherein predetermined spaced relation and to insure alignment of the openings therein.

19. Apparatus for assembling heat exchange units of the fin and tube type, comprising a box-like structure having bottom and end Walls and having a removable top Wall, each formed with grooves on the inner surfaces thereof cooperating to receive the marginal edges of a plurality of fins, and means for guiding said removable Wall in assembled relation with the box-like structure to insure registration of the grooves therein with the adjacent marginal edges of the fins. 20. Those steps in the method of manufacturing heat exchange units of the fin and tube type which consist in engaging opposite and adjacent marginal edges of each of a plurality of fins for supporting the latter in spaced relation to each other and extending tubes through prefashioned openings in the fins while thelatter are so supported.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

WILLIAM C. BITTER 

